Disease Outbreak Alerts

Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they will be listed. Updates will be posted as they are received.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed a case of strangles in a nine-year-old miniature mule gelding from Chippewa County. The unvaccinated mule developed nasal discharge, fever, and abscesses starting on March 6, 2018. The mule is recovering.Other equines at the premises were noted to have similar signs; they were not tested, but are suspected to also have strangles and are being treated. No quarantine was issued. To date for 2018, there have been two confirmed cases of strangles in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed the first case of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) for 2018. The five-year-old Standardbred gelding from Washtenaw County tested positive for EHV-1 after developing a sudden onset of neurologic signs: weakness, incoordination in the hind limbs and difficulty urinating. The horse is currently under veterinary care and is isolated. The stable where the horse originated from is under quarantine and is being monitored closely.

March 24, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Bannock County, ID

Quarantine Released

Source:
Idaho State Department of Agriculture

On March 23, 2018 the Idaho State Department of Agriculture released the Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy quarantine of the premises located in Bannock County, Idaho

March 23, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Maricopa County, AZ

Quarantine Released

Source:
Arizona State Veterinarian

On March 22, 2018 the Arizona State Department of Agriculture released the Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy quarantine of the premises located in north Maricopa County.

March 23, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Fredericksburg and Powhatan County, VA

Outbreak Update

Source:
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

On February 27, 2018, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) placed the Hazelwild Farm in Fredericksburg under quarantine for Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Utilizing separate biosecurity protocols, the farm immediately isolated a barn housing boarding horses from another barn that houses school horses. Since the quarantine began, four horses in the school barn developed fevers and tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), but no horses developed neurologic signs. None of the boarding horses tested positive for EHV-1. On March 20, 2018, VDACS released the boarder barn from quarantine. The barn housing school horses will remain under quarantine for 21 days after the last clinical case. A second unrelated farm in Powhatan was also placed under quarantine for EHM on February 27. The remaining horses showed no further signs of illness and that farm was released from quarantine on March 21.

March 21, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Union County, NJ

Outbreak Update

Source:
New Jersey Department of Agriculture

A Union County property quarantined by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture last week after a horse developed the highly infectious equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) has had a second horse test positive for the respiratory form of equine herpes.The second horse had an elevated temperature and was showing respiratory signs, but no neurological signs were noted by the attending veterinarian. The second horse has been moved into the isolation barn on the property and the entire property remains under quarantine. Temperatures continue to be taken twice daily on all horses on the property. No horses have moved onto or off the property in approximately a month, therefore exposure to horses outside the area is considered unlikely. The first horse was moved into the isolation barn on the property last week and the property was placed under quarantine. The finding of another positive horse has reset the quarantine clock and will delay the release date another three days. These are the first reported EHV-1 cases in New Jersey in 2018.

March 19, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

The Meadows Racetrack, PA

Quarantine Released

Source:
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

All movement restrictions are removed from The Meadows Racetrack as of March 16th. Quarantines exist in the area for exposed horses which have moved off the affected premises and are following revocation protocols.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in Union County, New Jersey. The horse was moved into the isolation barn on the property and the property has been quarantined. No recent movement of horses had occurred at the index property prior to this case. Temperatures are being taken twice daily on all quarantined horses. It is the first reported case in New Jersey in 2018.EHM is a reportable disease in New Jersey. If an owner has a horse exhibiting neurologic signs or suspects Equine Herpes, they are directed to call their veterinarian immediately. For more information go to: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/DiseaseFactsheetEHM.pdf.

Wyoming Livestock Board confirmed a horse in Sheridan County has tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The horse has been quarantined at its premise in Sheridan County with 12 other horses. The affected horse began showing neurologic signs on Sunday, March 11 while competing at a barrel racing event at the Cam-plex facility in Gillette. Owners of any horses attending that event should consult with their veterinarians and take precautions regarding exposure risk. At a minimum, these precautions should include close monitoring of the horses and checking their temperatures at least twice daily. If any of the horses show neurologic signs or fever, the owner needs to contact his/her veterinarian and the Wyoming Livestock Board.Although the source of the infection in the quarantined horse is unknown, this horse did compete at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds in Casper on Thursday, March 1, and at Laramie County Community College, Friday, March 2 – Sunday, March 4. Horses at the events may have been exposed. Because the incubation period for the disease is less than 14 days, clinical signs should have been apparent in any exposed horses. However potentially exposed horses should be monitored for at least 14 days since any possible exposure at events. More information on Equine Herpes Virus can be obtained by contacting the Wyoming Livestock Board Field Office at 307-857-4140 or by going to: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/DiseaseFactsheetEHV.pdf and https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/DiseaseFactsheetEHM.pdf.

March 15, 2018

Strangles

Levy, Clay, Palm Beach, and Volusia Counties, FL

Confirmed case(s): Official Quarantine

Source:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed several cases of Strangles. One premise in Levy County, Florida was placed under quarantine on 3/8/18 for clinical signs of Strangles. Two of the eight horses on the premise are showing clinical signs at this time. One premise in Clay County, Florida was also placed under quarantine on 3/8/18 for clinical signs and a positive PCR of Strangles after arriving from a Louisiana “kill pen”. Five of the 43 horses on the premise are showing clinical signs at this time. One premise in Clay County Florida was placed under quarantine on 3/9/18 for clinical signs and a positive PCR of Strangles after arriving from a Louisiana “kill pen”. One of the 3 horses on the property is showing clinical signs at this time. One premise in Palm Beach County, Florida was placed under quarantine on 3/14/18 for clinical signs and a positive PCR of Strangles. Three of the 8 horses on the property are showing clinical signs at this time. One premise in Volusia County, Florida was placed under quarantine on 3/15/18 for clinical signs and a positive PCR of Strangles after arriving from a Louisiana “kill pen”. One of the 4 horses on the property is showing clinical signs at the time. The quarantine totals for each of these counties are as follows: one in Levy County, two in Clay County, one in Palm Beach County, and one in Volusia County. This brings the total to 14 Strangles quarantines for the state of Florida in 2018.

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